Piece of Weidmann's History Returns

Meridian's most historic restaurant got back a little piece of its history this week.

Weidmann's Restaurant was established in 1870 and fed people from all over the country with its down home cooking, southern style.

Under its former ownership about 12 years ago, the sign that had been there for years was taken down and sold.

"It changed hands to Mr. Price, who sent the sign back to us," said manager, Molly Robin.

Buckley Electric helped to refurbish the sign.

"The sign was the original sign from the original restaurant and it was sold at auction when the restaurant closed the first time," said Jim Buckley. "And it was given back about a couple of weeks ago and Mitchell Signs completely refurbished it."

Some of the people here today have been coming to Weidmann's for more than forty years.

"Oh the food is wonderful," said Tom Maynor of Meridian. "I've had about everything on the menu. Friday noon is my gumbo day; I love the gumbo here."

"I've been coming here all my life," said Cluis Daniels of Collinsville. "Back whenever they didn't even have a lock on the front door and it stayed open twenty-four hours a day."

Weidmann's is known all over the country for its gumbo, fried green tomatoes, and crab cakes.

"We've got about a party of eighty going upstairs right now," said chef John Tourtellote. "They're getting crab cakes and Chicken Bolognaise and prime rib."

Weidmann's opened its doors back in 1870, but it didn't move to the current location until 1923. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The current owner, Charles Frazier, took over two years ago.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.